Morricone to head Rome jury

This year's edition runs Oct. 27-Nov. 4

ROME — Celebrated Italian composer Ennio Morricone will head the jury of the upcoming Rome Film Festival.

The prolific maestro with legions of worldwide fans of his scores — most famously those to Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti Westerns — is a Rome native with deep roots in the Italo capital and film industry hub.

The Rome fest has come under fire lately from Italy’s new Culture Czar Giancarlo Galan, who privileges the Venice Film Festival. But Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno remains a staunch supporter of the Eternal City extravaganza and its high-profile Business Street mart.

Upcoming edition of Rome, which is headed by Piera Detassis, as artistic director, and Gianluigi Rondi, as president, will run Oct. 27- Nov. 4.